JPMorgan hiring probe escalates

Gaby Abdelnour, a former JPMorgan Chase regional chief who expanded the bank’s business in Asia, was questioned by U.S. investigators about his knowledge of a hiring program at the center of an international bribery probe, a person briefed on the matter said.

The meeting with a former JPMorgan executive shows how a probe of the firm’s hiring practices has escalated since the bank said in August the Securities and Exchange Commission had sought information on its employment of certain people in Hong Kong and client relationships.

Authorities are examining whether JPMorgan hired people in Asia so that their relatives in government would steer business to the firm, people with knowledge with the investigations have said.